Why Bimbo Ashiru resigned as Ogun Commissioner

Why Bimbo Ashiru resigned as Ogun Commissioner

Ashiru family members are not only popular in Ijebuland, the family members are very close to Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Both Awujale and Bimbo do speak on a daily basis. Some years back, when Bimbo Ashiru and his brothers were made Otunbas, by the Paramount ruler of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Awujale, the traditional ruler emphasized on how close he was to Bimbo Ashiru in particular. Awujale expressed it to the extent that if kabiyesi couldn’t sleep at night, it is Bimbo he would call and they would chat for hours until he drops off to sleep.

In 2011, When the elder brother of Bimbo Ashiru, Late Gbenga Ashiru was Minister for foreign affairs under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's PDP ruling Federal government, Bimbo Ashiru had also been the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry under Senator Ibikunle Amosun's ACN/APC's ruling party in Ogun State.

Unknown to many, Bimbo Ashiru, one of the longest serving commissioners in Amosun's cabinet had been pursing his gubernatorial ambition immediately after Governor Amosun was sworn in second term as Governor. Infact, Sources confirmed that the powerful Ijebu committee that just adopted him as governorship candidate had been working more than a year. The committee had also met with Governor Amosun to intimate him about the Ijebu agenda.

Ashiru immediately set up consultations machinery in Ijebu and faced his primary onuses as commissioner for Commerce and Industry when he re-appointed.

Ashiru did not mistakenly forget his constituency, the social and corporate arena while he also had one leg in politics. He was constantly meeting with numerous groups both political and social groups. He was determined to be the next Ogun State governor from Ijebu after Late Bisi Onabanjo who is the first Civilian Governor.

Both Bimbo Ashiru and Ibikunle Amosun had been friends over 20 years.

Consequently, Bimbo had been loyal commissioner to Amosun. Bimbo knew Amosun could not also joke with Awujale of Ijebuland who he put on the top of his heart. That was the main reason he came out to contest for the governorship race.

It is undoubtedly true that Ijebu Committee headed by Senator Dipo Odujinrin and others ratified and adopted Otunba Bimbo Ashiru as the gubernatorial candidate of Ijebus. This was contrary to the belief of Ashiru's friend, Governor Amosun who claimed that he would support Ogun West candidate for 2019 gubernatorial election.

While some people opined that it was Governor Amosun's plan B, that Ashiru might be eventually supported as gubernatorial candidate, Some said Amosun might have asked Ashiru to resign as his commissioner so that Ogun west people could repose confidence in him.

Otunba Abimbola Ashiru was born in Ijebu-Ode. He could also be named as Tekobo (The new political sobriquet in Ogun State), as he lived most of his lives in Lagos.
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Bimbo's father, the late Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru, was also Ijebu statesman, while his late mother, Princess Moradeun Ashiru, is from the Fidipote royal family of Ijebu Ode and the ruling house of Owu-Ijebu.

Bimbo Ashiru graduated with a degree in Marketing, Purchasing and Supply. He also had a Masters Degree in Strategic Management.

Over 20 years, after He was employed by Chartered Bank in the year 1989, He served in various capacities of Management (Head, Private Banking Unit; Branch Manager; Head, Institution & Professional Banking; Regional Coordinator; Country Director, Personal and Business Banking; Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Investments; until his last position of Group Head, Public Sector with Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is a man with a desire for developing people around him, and this translated into his appointment as the representative of the Awujale of Ijebuland on the Ogun State Poverty Alleviation Task Force. He has distinguished himself in this field and represented his people favourably to the best of his ability. He was also on the Technical and Communications Committees of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit (2011). He is a member of The Metropolitan Club, Ikoyi Club 1938 and a member of the Ijebu Heritage Group. Otunba Ashiru is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN).

Until his resignation as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State, Ashiru has held the position since 2011 after being re-appointed to the same ministry in 2015.

More than 58 new companies established their presence in Ogun State with a cumulative investment profile of about N691.77. Billion in 2014, compared to N377 Billion in 2013. This placed Ogun State in the first position in Nigeria, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Otunba Bimbola Ashiru popularly known as OBA is happily married to Olukemi Ashiru, a lawyer, and they are blessed with two lovely children.